Construction Data Object Threads for Secure Subgroup Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction projects face inefficiencies in communication related to vast amounts of information, particularly regarding access and collaboration among users with different levels of access to data objects, leading to challenges in managing conversations and decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A computing platform generates both public and limited conversation threads associated with data objects, allowing for on-demand creation of limited conversation threads accessible to specific sub-groups within the broader user group, facilitating more focused and secure communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single public conversation thread is provided for all users accessing a data object, then all users can communicate about the project, but communication becomes unmanageable and security risks increase due to unauthorized access to sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single public conversation thread into multiple limited conversation threads, each accessible only to specific subgroups of users (e.g., designers, contractors, subcontractors). This segmentation isolates sensitive discussions to authorized groups while maintaining overall project communication visibility, directly resolving the security and manageability contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If limited conversation threads are created for specific subgroups, then communication security and focus are improved, but the system complexity and overhead for managing multiple threads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing platform implements a universal thread management system that automatically handles the creation, assignment, and coordination of multiple limited conversation threads. This multi-functional system allows users to access relevant threads based on their roles without manually managing each thread, reducing operational overhead while maintaining communication focus.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing platform acts as an intermediary that automatically manages the complexity of multiple conversation threads. It mediates between user needs and thread organization, automatically assigning users to appropriate limited threads based on their roles and the data objects they access, thereby reducing manual management overhead.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all project information is made accessible to all users, then collaboration is simplified, but the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different portions of project information accessible to different user groups. Limited conversation threads are created with specific access permissions, allowing sensitive information (e.g., subcontractor details, pricing) to be visible only to authorized subgroups while maintaining overall project collaboration through the public thread structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing platform is configured to: (i) generate a data object; (ii) initialize a public conversation thread associated with the data object, the public conversation thread is accessible by each of a first group of users; (iii) cause a client device to present an interface for creating one or more limited conversation threads associated with the data object; (iv) after causing the client device to present the interface, receive, from the client device, a request to create a limited conversation thread associated with the data object that is accessible by each of a second group of users, wherein the second group of users is a first subset of the first group of users; and (v) based on the second request, generate the limited conversation thread associated with the data object, wherein the limited conversation thread is accessible by the second group of users.